Monday, 29 December 2014
Ancient underground City discovered in Turkey
The region of Cappadocia in central Turkey is home to one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world – deep valleys and soaring rock formations dotted with homes, chapels, tombs, temples and entire subterranean cities harmoniously carved into the natural landforms. Cities, empires and religions have risen and fallen around these unique underground havens, and yet it seems they still hold a few more secrets. Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered another massive underground city in Cappadocia, consisting of at least 7 kilometers (3.5 miles) of tunnels, hidden churches, and escape galleries dating back around 5,000 years. Calling it the “biggest archeological finding of 2014... Article
Monday, 29 September 2014
Some Very Good News ... 100 % Solar in 14 years
Futurist Ray Kurzweil notes that solar power has been doubling every two years for the past 30 years — as costs have been dropping. He says solar energy is only six doublings — or less than 14 years — away from meeting 100 percent of today’s energy needs.
Energy usage will keep increasing, so this is a moving target......
But, by Kurzweil’s estimates, inexpensive renewable sources will provide more energy than the world needs in less than 20 years.
Even then, we will be using only one part in 10,000 of the sunlight that falls on the Earth..... Washingtonpost.com
Energy usage will keep increasing, so this is a moving target......But, by Kurzweil’s estimates, inexpensive renewable sources will provide more energy than the world needs in less than 20 years.
Even then, we will be using only one part in 10,000 of the sunlight that falls on the Earth..... Washingtonpost.com
Friday, 26 September 2014
Living off the grid in Costa Rica ...
The New Economics Foundation (NEF) ranked Costa Rica first in its 2009 Happy Planet Index, and once again in 2012. The index measures the health and happiness they produce per unit of environmental input. According to NEF, Costa Rica's lead is due to its very high life expectancy which is second highest in the Americas, and higher than the United States. The country also experienced well-being higher than many richer nations and a per capita ecological footprint one third the size of the U.S.
With more than 90% of its electricity generated from renewable energy sources and goals to reach 95% by 2014, Costa Rica is certainly one of the greenest countries on the planet. It also is on track to become the world’s first carbon-free economy.
Costa Rica is among the Latin America countries that have become popular destinations for medical tourism. In 2006, Costa Rica received 150,000 foreigners that came for medical treatment. Costa Rica is particularly attractive to American tourists because of its proximity and short flight, the quality of medical services, and lower medical costs.
Costa Rica is among the Latin America countries that have become popular destinations for medical tourism. In 2006, Costa Rica received 150,000 foreigners that came for medical treatment. Costa Rica is particularly attractive to American tourists because of its proximity and short flight, the quality of medical services, and lower medical costs.
Costa Rica has become one of the most stable, prosperous, and progressive nations in Latin America. It permanently abolished its army in 1949, becoming the first of a few sovereign nations without a standing army.Costa Rica has consistently been among the top-ranking Latin American countries in the Human Development Index (HDI), placing 62nd in the world as of 2012. Christianity is the predominant religion, and Roman Catholicism is the official state religion according to the 1949 Constitution, which at the same time guarantees freedom of religion.
According to the most recent nationwide survey of religion, conducted in 2007 by the University of Costa Rica, 70.5% of Costa Ricans are Roman Catholics (44.9% practicing Catholics), 13.8% are evangelical Protestants, 11.3% report that they do not have a religion, and 4.3% belong to another religion. Because of the recent small, but continuous, immigration from Asia, other religions have grown, the most popular being Buddhism.
A "Renewable Paradise" Mother Nature has greatly influenced Costa Rica’s commitment to renewable energy. The country is blessed by copious amounts of rainfall – most of the country receives more than 100 inches of rain per year. Thus, it’s no surprise that over 80% of Costa Rica’s electricity is generated by hydro facilities. The country also boasts considerable geothermal power as well as growing wind assets, solar, and biomass facilities. The literacy rate in Costa Rica is 94.9%, one of the highest in Latin America. When the army was abolished in 1949, it was said that the "army would be replaced with an army of teachers." Elementary and high schools are found throughout the country in practically every community. Universal public education is guaranteed in the constitution.
Costa Rica's "Dry Season" (sunny and warm Beaches ) extends from December to April. The "Green Season" (lots of rain) is from May to November. So you have 5 months to collect Solar power and 7 months to collect water. A perfect balance. I will post affordable properties, small houses and land available for sale below ...
How about building and living in a Treehouse ? Finca Bellavista
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Living off the Grid for 7 days and nights in a Sukkah. Oct 8-15
A sukkah is a structure consisting of a roof made of organic material which has been disconnected from the ground (the s'chach). A sukkah must have 3 walls. It should be at least three feet tall, and be positioned so that all or part of its roof is open to the sky (only the part which is under the sky is kosher.)
The holiday lasts seven days (eight in the diaspora). The first day (and second in the diaspora) is a sabbath-like yom tov (holiday) when work is forbidden, followed by the intermediate Chol Hamoed and Shemini Atzeret. The Hebrew word sukkōt is the plural of sukkah, "booth or tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with schach (plant material such as leafy tree overgrowth or palm leaves).
The sukkah is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. Throughout the holiday, meals are eaten inside the sukkah and some people sleep there as well. On each day of the holiday, members of the household recite a blessing over the lulav (closed frond of the date palm tree, bound with boughs and branches of the willow and myrtle trees) and etrog (yellow citron) (Four species).
According to the prophet Zechariah, in the messianic era Sukkot will become a universal festival and all nations will make pilgrimages annually to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast there.(Zech 14:16-19) Rashi in Parashat Pinchas (Numbers, 29:18) writes that the 70 bulls offered whenever the Jewish people are able to offer animal sacrifices, the sum total sacrificed throughout the seven days of the Sukkot festival, correspond to and benefit the 70 national-linguistic groups encompassing all of humanity
Thursday, 11 September 2014
An amazing Log home in the woods.
Imagine living here ! At night, around the fire it would be like camping out in the woods, but no mosquitos. More Photos from RogerWadeStudio.com
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Camping in Comfort
Can this really be called camping ? Sure looks cozy ! Curious to know how they transport the bedroom suite.... maybe camping with a u-haul ? We'll have to try this next time we go camping.
Turtleback Trailer mobile offgrid living
Everything you need in one small space, on wheels and ready to go.
Read more here : http://www.gizmag.com/turtleback-adventure-trailer/32426/
Saturday, 14 June 2014
Saturday, 8 March 2014
Beautiful Structural Fabric homes for homeless.
‘weaving a home’ by kuwaiti designer abeer seikaly proposes a disaster shelter for refugees that is based on temporary huts of nomadic tribes. the use of structural fabric references ancient traditions of joining linear fibers to make complex three-dimensional shapes – the resulting pattern is easy to erect and scale into various functions, from a basket to a tent. the project incorporates technological advances and new methods of assembly of the material, envisioning a system composed of durable plastic members that are threaded to form a singular unit. these flexible envelopes fold across a central axis, with the hollow structural skin enabling necessities such as water and electricity to run through it, similar to a typical stud wall.`- http://www.designboom.com/architecture/abeer-seikaly-weaving-a-home-disaster-relief-03-06-2014/
Saturday, 1 March 2014
Timber Frame Straw Bale House for Sale, Missouri
Timber Frame House Features:
Handmade wood spiral staircase leads to 2nd story bedroom
500 sq. feet interior heated space
168 sq. ft enclosed north porch
168 sq. ft enclosed storage loft
78 sq. ft. west-facing balcony
Professionally designed and engineered timber frame (hardwood frame with all wood joinery)
Fully wrapped straw bale wall insulation (approx. r-35 – r-50, a.k.a. “r-enough”)
Concrete pier foundation (professionally engineered for weight loads)
Living roof with 7″ of polyiso roof insulation (approx. r-45)
20″ of cellulose insulation under the floor (r-70)
Chimney hookup for wood heat, passive solar orientation
Designed for south greenhouse attachment
Hand-built cantilevered spiral staircase
Steel wrapped oak roof edge detail, designed for gutter system, no cistern
Wiring is installed, power system not included
Reclaimed wood floors throughout entire house
Earth plaster interior, scratch coat
Lime plaster exterior, scratch coat
1″ white oak siding on north porch and storage loft
Handmade insulated loft doors (2)
Deadmen (support blocks) placed in walls for shelving and baseboard (marked)
100% no plywood or drywall in construction
100% natural wood sealers (Land Ark)
99% built with hand tools and human power
Tool shed is 8×12 (96 sq. ft) with loft, cedar siding, reclaimed wood floors, 6×12 east awning for extended
storage/firewood – can be converted to guest house if desired
Cob oven with 5×5 roof shelter
Leasehold size is approx. 4500 sq. ft.
Timber Frame Straw Bale House for Sale Located at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage in northeast Missouri.
Friday, 28 February 2014
Wood-fired Cedar Hot Tub
"The Underwater Wood Stove is nothing short of ingenious: you heat your Snorkel Hot Tub with a wood stove — an underwater wood stove made of marine grade aluminum coated with a corrosion-proof finish for years of trouble-free service. Completely submerged except for air intake, fuel feed, and chimney, the stove transfers heat to the water so efficiently, the underwater portion of the stove stays cool to the touch. The heating efficiency of the Snorkel® and Scuba® Stoves is far greater than outside the tub stoves which depend on thermal convection and with no plumbing there are no concerns of plumbing freezing and bursting."
Wood-Fired Hot tub kit from Snorkel.com - Products and Prices
Monday, 24 February 2014
1965 Airstream 20' Globetrotter for sale
- Check out this beautiful Classic Airstream on Airstream
- Classifieds .... http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/ads/1965-airstream-globetrotter-20-california-3/
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Sugar Shack in Quebec
A small sugar shack (cabane à sucre) near Saint-Joachim, Québec, Canada. -22 C°.
Photo by Lavloc. http://cabinporn.com/page/2
Monday, 17 February 2014
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Cabin near Juneau Alaska
Cabin overlooking the Taku and Norris Glaciers near Juneau, Alaska, USA. Contributed by Ron and Nan Schonenbach. http://cabinporn.com/page/4
Friday, 14 February 2014
$45 LED Light bulbs ? Why ?
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Why do we have to pay $45 for LED light bulbs or $ 2.23 for Mercury filled CFL ? I have 25 Watt Incandescent bulbs on dimmers that have lasted 15 years and more. If we use Solar for power I'd rather stay with my incandescent light until they invent Solar Lighting. What are your thoughts ?
Friday, 24 January 2014
Thursday, 23 January 2014
Beautiful Cabin using local materials.
Beautiful Cabin - built using local materials. Could you see yourself living here ?
via https://www.facebook.com/greenrenaissance
Sunday, 19 January 2014
Conversion of a 1959 bus to travelling Tiny Home.
A Renovation by Winkelman Architecture : "Comprehensive restoration of a 1959 Chevrolet Viking short bus. Designed to safely travel 12 passengers and driver on the road, it converts to guest quarters for two as two single beds or joined in the center as a queen. Complete with plumbing (toilet and sink) and power (120v and 12v)."
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Saptuaan Cree Long House, Off the Grid.
Saptuaan the Cree Long House, photo by Rezmutt. Have a good night everyone!
Tiny Off-grid House Design Contest, Win $500 and more
Submit your Design idea for a Small Off-grid house and win $500 Cash.
Deadline is June 2014
Click here for more details : http://www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/tinyhousecontest.htm
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